This vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit a server-side request forgery (SSRF) in Adminer, an open-source database management tool, affecting versions from 4.0.0 up to 4.7.9. The CVSS score of 7.2 indicates a high severity level, as this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations utilizing Adminer versions that bundle all drivers are at risk and should prioritize remediation.
The risk to organizations includes potential data exposure due to the SSRF, which may allow remote attackers to send unauthorized requests from the vulnerable server. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be exploited with low complexity, requiring no special privileges or user interaction.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability has been addressed in version 4.7.9 of Adminer, and users are advised to upgrade as soon as possible to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
According to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, this vulnerability has been noted as actively exploited, underscoring the urgency for timely remediation.
It is essential for organizations to remain vigilant and monitor their systems for any signs of exploitation related to this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
Adminer is an open-source database management tool implemented in PHP. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-21311 allows for server-side request forgery. This issue specifically affects Adminer versions prior to 4.7.9. The official CVE description indicates the affected versions include 4.0.0 and those prior to 4.7.9.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.2, which indicates a high severity risk. The CVSS vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. This classification reflects the potential impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low impacts identified for confidentiality and integrity.
The vulnerability was published on February 11, 2021, and is classified under CWE-918.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user input, allowing an attacker to craft malicious requests that the server processes without adequate validation. The attack vector is network-based, as it requires an attacker to send requests to the vulnerable Adminer instance.
The attack complexity is assessed as low, meaning that an attacker can execute this attack without significant effort. Additionally, no special privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, and user interaction is not necessary.
This vulnerability has a low impact on confidentiality and integrity but does not affect availability. If exploited, it can lead to unauthorized information disclosure.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The deployment of Adminer in production environments increases the risk of data exposure due to this vulnerability. Organizations should assess the blast radius of this vulnerability, which includes all systems utilizing the affected versions of Adminer.
The CVSS score indicates significant risk, especially for organizations that handle sensitive data. The known exploitation status suggests that this vulnerability is being targeted in the wild, which makes immediate action imperative.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of Adminer from 4.0.0 to 4.7.8 are affected by this vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to version 4.7.9 or later.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to Adminer version 4.7.9. If immediate upgrades are not possible, consider implementing network controls to restrict access to the Adminer instance and monitor for unusual activity.
Further information can be found in the official patch advisory. Organizations should also consider engaging in penetration testing to ensure all vulnerabilities have been addressed.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unusual HTTP requests that could indicate an attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, any changes in server response codes should be scrutinized.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-21311 lies in its representation of the growing concerns around server-side request forgery vulnerabilities in web applications. As organizations increasingly rely on web-based tools, understanding and mitigating these risks is paramount.
Security teams should learn from this incident to enhance their security posture against similar vulnerabilities. Implementing proper input validation and access controls are critical defensive strategies. For further reading on enhancing web application security, consider our article on web application penetration testing and the importance of regular security assessments.
Additionally, for organizations deploying cloud services, reviewing our guidance on cloud security assessments can provide insights into maintaining secure configurations.
Finally, understanding the broader implications of vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-21311 can aid in developing a proactive security strategy as part of an overall penetration testing methodology to defend against future threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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